Luggage with binding strip and method of making same

ABSTRACT

Luggage having a bumper or binding strip wherein the joint at the ends of the bumper strip is not butt welded but, rather, is covered by a cover member secured to the luggage thereby reducing the number of manufacturing operations and improving the appearance and durability of the structure. The cover member is preferably shaped to conform to the bumper strip. In one form, the cover member has an extension which is secured under the bell stud, which forms one of the luggage feet, by the rivet which secures the bell stud to the luggage bottom. Other securement means may be used including, but not limited to, a cover member which is snapped over the edges of the bumper strip or an integral fastening extension from a portion of the bumper strip.

T Q Umted States Patent 1191 1111 3,

Bernard et al. [45] D 9, 1975 1 LUGGAGE WITH BINDING STRIP AND 2,689,028 9/1954 Hartman 190/54 METHOD O MAKING SAME 3,203,517 8/1965 Stein 190/54 [75] lnvemors' g zfi fi'gzgj gg zii fi Prir mry Examir er-George E. Lowrance both of DeL Assistant Exammer-Stephen Marcus Attorney, Agent, or FirmOstrolenk, Faber, Gerb & [73] Assignee: Rapid-American Corporation, New Soffen York, NY.

[22] Filed: July 31, 1974 S RACT [21] AppL 493,312 Luggage having a bumper or binding strip wherein the joint at the ends of the bumper strip is not butt welded but, rather, is covered by a cover member secured to U.S. R', the luggage thereby reducing the number of manufac- 190/54 turing operations and improving the appearance and GL2 durability of the strueture The over member is pref. Fleld of Search 190/18 41 41 C, erably shaped to conform to the bumper strip. In one 190/41 21 54; 150/15 B1 15 R form, the cover member has an extension which is secured under the bell stud, which forms one of the lug- [56] References Cited gage feet. by the rivet which secures the bell stud to UNITED STATES PATENTS the luggage bottom. Other securement means may be 1,967,160 7/1934 PlOIkln 190/18 R x used including, but not limited a Cover member 1,999,424 4/1935 $6112 190/54 X 1 which is pp Over the edges of the bumper Strip of 2,182,604 12/1939 Wheary.... 190/54 x an integral fastening extension from a portion of the 2,335,293 1 H1943 Meyer 1 1 190/53 X bumper strip. 2,610,715 9/1952 Plotkin 190/37 2,686,581 8/1954 Smith 190 54 7 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec. 9, 1975 3,924,714

LUGGAGE WITH BINDING STRIP AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to luggage, and more particularly to binding strips which are used around the periphery of the luggage and are sometimes known as bumper strips because they provide not only a finished appearance for the luggage, but also are so located and arranged as to absorb shocks which may be imposed on the luggage during use.

More specifically, the present invention relates to the utilization of a finishing piece for a binding strip which will cover the joint or seam between the ends of the binding strip, providing a finished appearance and decreasing the number of operations entailed in and the cost of placing the binding strip on the luggage.

Heretofore in the manufacture of luggage, the placement of the binding strip was performed by cutting the strip to the exact desired length; then, since the binding strip was usually a thermoplastic material, butt welding the ends of the binding strip; then fitting the binding strip over the periphery of the luggage to which it was to be attached; and then sewing the bumper strip or binding strip thereto. In the usual case where a piece of luggage has a cover section and a clothes carrying compartment, the binding strip is placed around the periphery at the top of the cover section and around the periphery of the clothes carrying compartment. The luggage, as is well known, is then so arranged that when carried or in use, the handle is at the widest end of the clothes carrying compartment opposite the hinge between the cover and the clothes carrying compartment, and appropriate bell studs or other support members forming feet are usually secured both to the cover section and the clothes carrying compartment at the panels which hinge the cover section to the compartment.

Because of this customary construction of luggage, it therefore becomes desirable, in part, to conceal the butt weld between the end of the binding strip or bumper strip by placing this butt weld at that portion of the periphery of both the cover section and the clothes carrying compartment which is on the panelat the hinge end of each of the sections. Thus, when the luggage stands on the bottom thus formed and is ready to be carried or even when it is carried, the butt weld is not as visible or obvious as it would be if it were on the top or the sides.

In some cases, as for instance golf bags, the seam of the bumper strip at the top of the receptacle simply cannot be concealed.

The utilization of this butt weld, however, requires that the binding or bumper strip be cut to exact size prior to butt welding; that it thereafter be butt welded; that thereafter it be stretched on to the periphery of the luggage section to which it is to be applied; and thereafter must be sewn into place.

The present invention has for its primary object the method and structure for placing a binding or bumper strip on the periphery of each luggage section by simply sewing or otherwise securing a length of the binding or bumper strip to the luggage, starting the securement process at the bottom end of each section (at the panel of the section which carries the hinge), continuously sewing the binding or bumper strip around the periphery until the starting point is reached, and then cutting the binding strip as it is sewn down to the cut end; and thereafter placing a cover member over the seam.

As a further and concomitant object of the present invention, the cover member where the two ends of the binding strip meet may be shaped to the contour of the binding member and be provided with means for securing the same either to the bumper strip itself or to luggage panel.

A still further object of the present invention includes the concept that the cover member for the gap in the binding strip have a leg which protrudes on to and in surface-to-surface relation with the panel of the cover or the base which carries the hinge, the said leg being fastened down to that panel.

A still further and alternate object of the invention is the utilization of the bell stud which forms a foot for the luggage to secure the leg of the cover member in place.

A further and alternate object of the invention is the provision of a cover member which not only passes over the seam of the binding or bumper strip, but also hooks under both edges of the binding strip and engages the stitching used to secure the binding strip in place in order to locate it.

The foregoing and many other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the accompanying description and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a piece of luggage having the novel bumper or binding strips of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the bottom of the luggage of FIG. 1 showing one form of the novel bumper strip seam cover in place.

FIG. 2A is a view taken from line 2a2a of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows and showing a further detail of the bumper strip seam cover of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 3 is a view in perspective of the novel bumper strip seam cover of FIGS. 1, 2 and 2a.

FIG. 3A is a view in perspective of a modified form of the bumper strip seam cover of FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 is a view in perspective of an alternate form of the bumper strip cover.

FIG. 5 is a view of the bottom of a piece of luggage showing the bumper strip seam cover of FIG. 4 in place.

FIG. 5A is another view partly in cross-section of the structure of FIG. 5 looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 6 is a view in perspective of the top ofa golf bag showing the novel bumper strip cover applied thereto.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 through 3, the luggage 10 of FIG. 1 comprises a suitcase having a clothes carrying compartment 11, a cover 12 and a bottom 16 on which the suitcase l0 rests when itis in a position ready to be transported.

The opposite panel of compartment 11 carries a handle 17 by which the suitcase might be transported. When the suitcase is open or being packed, then the compartment panel 20, which is seen in FIG. 1, may at that point be regarded as the bottom since that is the position of the suitcase in which the cover compartment 12 may most readily be opened.

The binding strip which finishes off the luggage is shown as binding strip 21a at the peripheral edge of the clothes carrying compartment 20 and binding strip 21b at the peripheral edge of the opposite side carrying the cover 12. The construction of this binding strip, also known as a bumper strip, may most readily be seen in FIGS. 2A and 5A in which the binding strip on each peripheral edge comprises a main resilient bumper section 22, a longitudinal substantially flat extension 23, and an integral re-entrant section 24. When the binding strip 21 is sewn in place,the machine which performs the operation bends back the re-entrant finishing panel or section 24 so that the stitching enters through the flat section 23 into the panel of the com partment to form a line of stitching along the general location 25; the cover panel 24 is sufficiently resilient and flexible so that as the stitching operations proceeds and is completed, it snaps back to cover the stitching and provides a finished appearance.

As previously pointed out, it is desirable both for the sake of appearance and economy in manufacture to avoid the need for an initial butt weld at the seam where the ends of the binding and bumper strip 21 meet.

Where such weld has been used, the operations were as follows:

1 l. the bumper strip is pulled out to exact length and is cut to that length;

2. the bumper strip is then placed on a welding machine to obtain the butt weld and to make a continuous loop of the bumper strip;

3. the now welded continuous bumper strip is stretched on to the periphery by a manual operation;

4. the strip is then sewn in place.

Since by the present invention it is possible to avoid the butt weld, the operations are as follows:

1. the binding or bumper strip is pulled out as it is sewn on to the periphery of the luggage and cut when the stitching reaches the starting point;

2. the cover member is placed over the seam or gap.

In the construction shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a third operation, the securement of leg 31, is necessary. However, where bell studs 34 or other devices are used as feet on the luggage, no added operation is required. The placementand attachment of the cover member is deferred until the bell studs 34 or other bottom standoff members for the section 16 of the luggage are secured in place and the securement of one of these bottom members as hereinafter described passes through the leg 31 of the cover member to hold it in place. For this reason, the stitching on of the binding or bumper strip must be started at a specific location, to wit, the location that will be adjacent a bell stud or other stand-off member forming a foot for the bottom panel 16.

According to the present invention, a'preferred form of cover member provides a cover which, if desired, may have a contour that matches the outer contour of the binding or bumper strip and has an extending leg 31. The extending leg 31 of the cover member extends on to the panel 13 or 14 as the case may be, to a point where the securing rivet 33 which secures the bell stud 34 or other support member to the bottom 16 of the suitcase is located. In this instance the support for the suitcase is shown as a bell stud, although it may as readily comprise another form of support or foot member including a member which includes a roller or caster.

In FIG. 3A, there is shown a modification of the cover member of FIG. 3 wherein the cover member 30a of FIG. 3A has a leg 31a similar to the FIG. 3 construction. The leg 31a is provided with an integral fastening device, point or tang 38 which may be molded or cast as part of the leg 31a or may be struck up from the material of leg 31a (where the cover member is made of metal). The point or tang 38 may be driven into the adjacent panel of the luggage at the same time that member 30a is applied thereto.

An alternate form of cover member is shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 5a in which the alternate cover member 40 also has a contour which follows the contour of the binding or bumper strip, but is provided with flange 41 which snaps under the binding or bumper strip on the outer side, and an additional flange 42 snapping under the strip on the inner stide that is, the stitched side of the binding or bumper strip. The additional flange 42 has a tang 43 which enters between the stitches along the line 25 and is thereby located longitudinally so that it will not slide along the strip out of position. It is also located against removal by the fact that flanges 41 and 42 have been snapped under the binding or bumper strip 21. The member 40 may be sufficiently resilient for this purpose and of course the binding or bumper strip, being of flexible material, is sufficiently resilient to receive this snapped-on arrangement.

The preferred form, however, is the cover member with the leg as shown in FIGS. 1 through 3.

While the present invention has been shown in connection with a suitcase, it will be obvious that it may be used on other receptacles such as bowling bags. It is also obvious that it may be used in connection also with a lidded container in the same manner as shown herein.

In FIG. 6 there is shown the application of the bumper strip 121 to the top of a golf bag or to the top of any other open receptacle. The bumper strip here is secured with member 21 (of FIG. 2A) against the outer surface. And the section 22 (of FIG. 2A) is formed to extend substantially parallel to section 21 instead of at right angles thereto as in FIG. 2A. In this case the cover member 40 of FIG. 5 is shown completing the bumper strip. However, the member 30a of FIG. 3A may obviously as readily be used. And the member 30 of FIG. 3 may be used with a rivet driven through the leg 31 of member 30 to hold it in place. Said rivet may, of course, also be used to attach a strap, leg or flap to the golf bag.

It will thus be seen that by the utilization of the cover member and securing'the cover member in place, a substantial number of operations in the manufacture of the luggage and the application of the binding or bumper strip are eliminated; instead of a butt weld which may have beads and which can detract from the appearance of the luggage, the seam or gap between the ends of the binding or bumper strip is covered by a finished piece which is secured in place.

In the foregoing, the present invention has been described in connection with preferred illustrated embodiments thereof. Since many modifications and variations of the present invention will now be obvious to those skilled in the art, it is preferred that the scope of the present invention be determined not by the specific disclosures herein, but only by the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive privilege or property is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In luggage having a principal wall and an adjacent wall connected to and substantially normal to said peripheral wall;

a peripheral binding strip secured to at least one of said walls at the connection between said principal wall and said adjacent wall;

the ends of said peripheral binding strip being unsecured to each other and lying adjacent each other;

a cover member for said adjacent ends of said binding strip;

means for securing said cover member in place; said cover member spanning and concealing said unsecured adjacent ends of said binding strip.

2. The container of claim 1 in which said adjacent wall is provided with supporting feet; said adjacent ends of said binding strip being located adjacent one of said feet, said cover member having a leg, said leg extending beneath said one of said feet and being secured thereby to said adjacent wall.

3. The container of claim 1 wherein said cover member has a contour matching the contour of said binding strip.

4. The container of claim 1, in which the said cover member is provided with an extending leg and means for securing said leg to one of said walls.

5. The container of claim 4 in which said means for securing said extending leg to one of said walls comprises an extension from said leg introducible into said wall.

6. The container of claim 1, in which said cover member is provided with re-entrant flanges on each side of said binding strip, said re-entrant flanges being snapped under said binding strip on each side.

7. The container of claim 6, in which said binding strip is stitched to said adjacent wall; the re-entrant flange which is adapted to engage the binding strip on the side thereof adjacent the stitching having a tang being received in said stitching and being located thereby. 

1. In luggage having a principal wall and an adjacent wall connected to and substantially normal to said peripheral wall; a peripheral binding strip secured to at least one of said walls at the connection between said principal wall and said adjacent wall; the ends of said peripheral binding strip being unsecured to each other and lying adjacent each other; a cover member for said adjacent ends of said binding strip; means for securing said cover member in place; said cover member spanning and concealing said unsecured adjacent ends of said binding strip.
 2. The container of claim 1 in which said adjacent wall is provided with supporting feet; said adjacent ends of said binding strip being located adjacent one of said feet, said cover member having a leg, said leg extending beneath said one of said feet and being secured thereby to said adjacent wall.
 3. The container of claim 1 wherein said cover member has a contour matching the contour of said binding strip.
 4. The container of claim 1, in which the said cover member is provided with an extending leg and means for securing said leg to one of said walls.
 5. The container of claim 4 in which said means for securing said extending leg to one of said walls comprises an extension from said leg introducible into said wall.
 6. The container of claim 1, in which said cover member is provided with re-entrant flanges on each side of said binding strip, said re-entrant flanges being snapped under said binding strip on each side.
 7. The container of claim 6, in which said binding strip is stitched to said adjacent wall; the re-entrant flange which is adapted to engage the binding strip on the side thereof adjacent the stitching having a tang being received in said stitching and being located thereby. 